Is one of your New Year’s resolutions to get into the outdoors more often?

Kloofendal: close to the urban centre, yet part of the great outdoors

If one of your goals in 2013 is to take more time off and get fit while also getting into nature, then we have lots right on our doorstep in Joburg. I was sent the Friends of Kloofendal newsletter and was amazed by the range of activities and events on offer.

Where is Kloofendal?

Run by Joburg City Parks, Kloofendal is a nature reserve some 20 km from Liz at Lancaster in Roodepoort at Cnr Galena Ave & Amphitheatre (also called Veronica) Str. (just over an half hour drive).

History of Kloofendal

It was founded on the site of the first payable gold mining operation of 1884 (this was prior to the main reefs being discovered) and the old shafts have been restored and are national monuments, open to view. The wildlife is generally of the smaller variety, the main attraction being the pristine vegetation contained by the reserve. Walking trails criss-cross the area and there is a bird hide at the small dam on the reserve. The reserve also is home to the geological site of Confidence Reef.

Goldmining tours

On the last Sunday every month from 2 – 4pm Rod Kruger a gold mining historian leads a walk in reserve exploring the Confidence Reef Goldmine in Kloofendal. Here he introduces you to the gold mining characters involved in Johannesburg’s early gold mining history as well as to the functioning of the stamp mill.

Fee R50 per adult, R25 per child.

Upcoming events Jan – March

And these are but some of the upcoming events for Jan, Feb and early March: